BILL NUMBER: ACR 51	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER  101
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  JULY 12, 2007
	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JULY 2, 2007
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 9, 2007
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 4, 2007

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Spitzer and Eng

                        APRIL 23, 2007

   Relative to hate crimes.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 51, Spitzer. Hate Crimes Awareness Month.
   This measure would designate June 2007 as Hate Crimes Awareness
Month.



   WHEREAS, Hate crimes are acts of terror meant to intimidate and
cause fear in our communities to deter the free exercise of enjoyment
of any rights or privileges secured by the United States and the
California Constitutions, the laws of the United States, and the laws
of the State of California; and
   WHEREAS, The California Department of Justice reported 1,409 hate
crimes in 2004, and 1,397 in 2005; and
   WHEREAS, The United States Department of Justice's National
Criminal Victimization Survey estimates that an annual average of
210,000 hate crime victimizations occurred nationally from July 2000
to December 2003; and
   WHEREAS, The United States Department of Justice's National
Criminal Victimization Survey reveals that 56 percent of hate crimes
are not reported to the police; and
   WHEREAS, The underreporting of hate crimes is the result of a
variety of factors that include the victim's lack of knowledge about
the criminal justice system, fear of retaliation, linguistic and
cultural barriers, immigration status, and prior negative experience
with governmental agencies; and
   WHEREAS, California needs to remain vigilant in promoting
tolerance to address growing white supremacist movements, such as the
Aryan Nation and Aryan Brotherhood, in California that recruit our
youth through music, the Internet, and other media and information
outlets; and
   WHEREAS, The Anti-Defamation League reports that hate rock
concerts are organized yearly in southern California by labels like
White Heat Productions and Condemned Records which feature bands that
encourage hate violence in their lyrics; and
   WHEREAS, The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that the number
of active hate crime organizations increased from 52 active hate
organizations in 2005 to 63 active hate organizations in 2006; and
   WHEREAS, The 36 million Californians make up one of the most
diverse populations in the United States where 43.8 percent identify
as White, 35.2 percent identify as Latino, 6.6 percent identify as
Black, 11.1 percent identify as Asian, 0.7 percent identify as Native
American, 0.3 percent identify as Native Hawaiian, 1.9 percent
identify as multiethnic, 12.3 percent identify as people with
disabilities, 50.5 percent identify as female and 26.8 percent
identify as foreign-born Americans; and
   WHEREAS, All Californians should condemn acts of violence and
prejudice on the basis of race, ethnic background, national origin,
religious belief, sex, age, disability, or sexual orientation; now,
therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the month of June 2007 is hereby designated
as Hate Crimes Awareness Month to educate community members on the
proper reporting of hate crimes and to increase awareness about
diversity and tolerance to improve public safety; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.